Impacts of Stress and Interventions on Brain Function

These flashcards cover key concepts related to stress, brain function, and interventions for traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

An injury to the brain that occurs due to external force, resulting in impairments in cognition, physical ability, and emotional regulation.

Acute Phase Interventions

Medical interventions focusing on stabilization during the first hours to days after TBI.

Excitotoxicity

A pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed by excessive stimulation by neurotransmitters such as glutamate.

Cognitive Recovery

The process of regaining cognitive functions that may have been impaired due to brain injury or trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps individuals understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

A psychotherapy technique designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories through guided eye movements.

Multi-Modal Motion-Assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation (3MDR)

An innovative PTSD treatment that combines virtual reality exposure with therapeutic techniques involving physical movement.

Oxytocin

A hormone that plays a role in social bonding and emotional responses, which can enhance the body's immune response.

Chronic Stress

A prolonged and constant feeling of stress that negatively affects health and well-being.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

A complex set of interactions among the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that regulate stress response.

Prenatal Stress

Stress experienced by a mother during pregnancy that can have lasting negative effects on the child's development.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons in the brain, crucial for learning and memory.

Screen Time

The amount of time spent using devices with screens, such as televisions, computers, and smartphones.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience, including learning new skills.

Bimanual Coordinative Task

An activity requiring coordination between both hands, often used to assess motor skills and brain function.

Gray Matter

A major component of the central nervous system involved in processing and cognition, made up predominantly of neuronal cell bodies.

White Matter

Tissue in the brain composed of myelinated axons, facilitating communication between different brain regions.